Book 2 – Text Updates 029

[Nargrakhan]

Wow. I wonder if Sylvia is in awe of Parson, or in awe of the destructive capacity Parson represents.

IMHO, Parson is like Erfworld's own mini-Great Old One. His thinking is indeed alien to them, as it's so "outside of the box" (application of the scientific method, plus knowledge of events and possibilities from another reality). I say this, because to me, Sylvia seems "out of it" - sorta like Jack. She's in her own little world. I think it's because she seen the power of a "Great Old One" (Parson) and been driven insane. Admittedly, it's not a great comparison... Parson ain't exactly Cthulhu... but more or less, Sylvia's mind is broken because she's trying to put ordinary prospective on something, utterly alien and incomprehensible to her... thus insanity.

[justamessenger]

Love the update. Beautifully written. You tell 'im, Sylvia!

...I wonder what the final casualty list is going to look like for GK. Parson already thinks it's going to be massive, and that's not even considering if Tramennis and/or Charlie throw a wrench in his plans. I think Wanda and Jack need to survive for the story, but anyone else is at risk... I'd think Ossomer's definitely going to be gone and much as we love her, Sylvia is high-risk as well.

I believe immediate casualties will indeed be heavy, both Parson and Wanda agree on this. In fact, I believe Parson's plan will *rely* upon this, given Wanda's ability to decrypt any dead troops once they cross the hex boundary (i.e.- splat on the ground). Thus, in order to fully implement the plan that I think Parson is envisioning, it requires an initially apparently unsustainable amount of losses. Only so much can be done with dropping arrows and dwagon crap, the rest of the plan relies upon something more perverse.

Wow. I wonder if Sylvia is in awe of Parson, or in awe of the destructive capacity Parson represents.

IMHO, Parson is like Erfworld's own mini-Great Old One. His thinking is indeed alien to them, as it's so "outside of the box" (application of the scientific method, plus knowledge of events and possibilities from another reality). I say this, because to me, Sylvia seems "out of it" - sorta like Jack. She's in her own little world. I think it's because she seen the power of a "Great Old One" (Parson) and been driven insane. Admittedly, it's not a great comparison... Parson ain't exactly Cthulhu... but more or less, Sylvia's mind is broken because she's trying to put ordinary prospective on something, utterly alien and incomprehensible to her... thus insanity.

This is what my thought process is regarding Parson vis a vis the rest of Erfworld. He represents a P/power insofar as he is able to bend the rules of Erfword to his will, not by directly manipulating them, but by finding the loopholes, tweaks and exploits that would break the game. In RPG terms, he is an Epic Level munchkin capable of min/maxing, exploiting and otherwise derailing the normally accepted ways of doing things. If this, in turn, can be felt by others, i.e. -if Sylvia was sensing Parson and not the trimancer spell, it means that Parson may well be interpreted by Erfword as something akin to an Aberration capable of altering Erfworld's rules and reality himself.

EDIT: As a corollary to that latter train of thought, it could be that the Titans had a hand in bringing him to Erfworld themselves to impose Their will through Parson as an intermediary. Just a thought... I guess that means I am in the Tinfoil Hat crowd now...

[Ansan Gotti]

I am guessing Jack will die to give the gambit some weighty heft and pathos, and then we will see the answer to the decrypted caster question.

I am also guessing Sylvia will die because it seems foreshadowed.

I think Wanda and Ossomer will live.

And I am guessing I am going to be totally wrong.

EDIT: And BOY will it freak out the Magic Kingdom if it becomes known that casters can be decrypted and still cast!

[gameboy1234]

Parson is a titan.

Possibly the arkentools are what he used to make his gameboard, or one of them is a tool he used, and the other tools come from other makers of similar games.

Definitely posited already. And I think it's correct, mostly. Only Parson would have recognized the tools by now if they were his, so the tools must belong to other Titans.

But yeah, Parson is a Titan, I'm sure of it. He made Gobwin Knob. All the twisty little passages and such and the hopeless scenario too. But there's a lot of stuff Parson didn't make -- even the whole game system is unfamiliar to him, plus the "gobwins" and the "spidews" and "dwagons" etc., names which Parson appears to despise, or at least consider a joke -- so there must be other gamers involved. Possibly, ALL gamers from our world have contributed something to Erfworld. That's why it's such a hodge-podge, and so big.

We still have one other tool to go, at least, which Parson could recognize and attune to. We'll see if that happens. But I don't think it's necessary.

Prediction: when Parson levels up (I'm sure he will at some point) he'll grow, eventually reaching Titanic size.

[zilfallon]

well gameboy, i really believe that 4. tool is for sizemore check the wiki for Arkenshovel, real world references fit way too well, it can't be a coincidence because other tools and their attuned have references to real world in the same way.

i also have a theory about the toolism war:

The reason that Royal's aren't attuned to tools might be the titan's or tool's will. Royal's are obviously in a stronger position than others in the erf, so the tools are attuning themselves to non-royals to continiue the endless cycle of war, the purpose of erf. in other words, a side started to win and the game masters are balancing it by making the other side stronger.
So, maybe that is the reason Parson was brought to erfworld, to keep the endless cycle alive, unlike what Janis said.

[Tom90deg]

Here's an epileptic tree for y'all to chew on. The overall theme of this Book is "Love is a battlefield", and it's going in a few different directions with all the characters. I think Sylvia is going to be Parson's interest, or at least she's going to be into him. For a severe tree, later on, Wanda is going to break off or Parson is going to end up fighting her, and then we'll see if the Decrypted have any free will at all, if Sylvia will pull a heel-face turn to be on Parson's side.

Of course, that's just a guess from her reaction to thinking about Parson, but she sure seems to be getting a bit heated over him

[radd]

As for Parson the reluctant savior and his role in burning down the world in order to remake/save it - it reminds me of Dune, Muad'Dib and his struggle to avoid a Jihad.

[Dancingrage]

Goes without saying that I'm in the "Parson's a Titan" camp, er, wait, I said it.

Any rate, the tinfoil hats here are pretty well designed and thought out, all that really remains is to see what the almighty conjurers actually do vs what we think about.

[Magothys]

On the subject of Parson's level:

1. Did he enter ErfWorld at level 2? We know he's been at least level 2 since Stanley abandoned Gobwin Knob: http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F077a.jpg. But he hadn't engaged in any direct combat before that point, and indirectly had only been in charge of the dwagon attack/retreat. But the uncroaked warlords wouldn't level from a retreat, so why would Parson?

2. If simply leading battles can grant experience for leveling (which would explain him being level 2), why is he still the same level at the end of tBfGK? He successfully led a fight against an army that outnumbered him 25 to 1.

3. Alternatively, how would other Gobwin Knob units know what level he is? No one can see Parson's stats (including Parson), and Parson's only reference was his Stupid Meal in Book 1 (see above).

I can see two possibilities:
A. Parson was summoned at level 1, gets experience for leading battles, whether or not he is an active participant, received a massive experience boost for tBfGK and probably leveled (multiple times), and Wanda just doesn't know his current level due to his stats being hidden.

B. ErfWorld units can pop with a random low number other than 1 as a level. Parson was summoned at level 2, only gets experience for directly killing stuff (like the wiener ram), Wanda is estimating his level since he hasn't done any fighting since tBfGK, and he will likely remain level 2 for a long time.

[justamessenger]

On the subject of Parson's level:

1. Did he enter ErfWorld at level 2? We know he's been at least level 2 since Stanley abandoned Gobwin Knob: http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F077a.jpg. But he hadn't engaged in any direct combat before that point, and indirectly had only been in charge of the dwagon attack/retreat. But the uncroaked warlords wouldn't level from a retreat, so why would Parson?

2. If simply leading battles can grant experience for leveling (which would explain him being level 2), why is he still the same level at the end of tBfGK? He successfully led a fight against an army that outnumbered him 25 to 1.

3. Alternatively, how would other Gobwin Knob units know what level he is? No one can see Parson's stats (including Parson), and Parson's only reference was his Stupid Meal in Book 1 (see above).

I can see two possibilities:
A. Parson was summoned at level 1, gets experience for leading battles, whether or not he is an active participant, received a massive experience boost for tBfGK and probably leveled (multiple times), and Wanda just doesn't know his current level due to his stats being hidden.

B. ErfWorld units can pop with a random low number other than 1 as a level. Parson was summoned at level 2, only gets experience for directly killing stuff (like the wiener ram), Wanda is estimating his level since he hasn't done any fighting since tBfGK, and he will likely remain level 2 for a long time.

1) There is nothing indicating that he was summoned at level 1 or 2. EDIT: For all we know, he may have been summoned as a Level 0 unit.

2) There may be an Erfworld mechanic that prevents someone from increasing more than one level at a time; also, there is the matter of Parson ducking through the portal to the MK, in which case he may not have received any XP from the TPK at TBFGK.

3) Units can feel differences in their bonuses. It is highly likely that they can determine, or at least infer, the level of a warlord based upon the bonus received. After all, just because they cannot see Parson's stats doesn't mean they cannot see their *own* stats, including bonuses provided by Parson.

A) See 2) above; again Wanda would have a good point of reference based upon her own received bonuses from Parson becoming CWL for GK.

B) I wouldn't bet on random levels at popping, but perhaps more schmuckers (or perhaps some sort of -mancy) can be utilized to increase level at the time a unit is popped. Interesting thought, that... As for whether or not units get XP only from direct combat, that may be the case. Despite Stanley being the leader of GK, we have seen nothing to indicate him leveling up at all. Again, interesting thought to pursue.

[Spanners]

2) There may be an Erfworld mechanic that prevents someone from increasing more than one level at a time

On the contrary, we have an example that it IS possible - after croaking Ansom, Bogroll levelled. Twice.

[justamessenger]

2) There may be an Erfworld mechanic that prevents someone from increasing more than one level at a time

On the contrary, we have an example that it IS possible - after croaking Ansom, Bogroll levelled. Twice.

I had forgotten about that, however there may still be a requirement that the unit be in the same hex. Parson was not, for obvious reasons, able to stay at GK when the volcano erupted. Also, there is the question of direct combat vs underlings being in direct combat.

[leshabirukov]

I went back a few strips, http://www.erfworld.com/page/8/ , Slately very clearly refers to Tramennis as his 'remaining son.' So... My vote is that Tramennis isthe sole surviving son, given the 'we haven't the schmuckers to designate him' comment made by Slately in the same strip

Option: alive but exiled.

Hmm, now there's an interesting echo. Sylvia says, "This city will yet burn... I rather hope he will burn down the whole world." Compared to http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F141.jpg where Janis says, "He broke things. Right? Rules, people, ideas... even the land itself... And some things do need to be broken... if he breaks things enough, there may be peace in Erfworld after all."

I can't help but think while I read this, with how Sylvia describes the moment she picked up the Pliers, that she might have actually attuned to them..and then died on the spot, leaving it open for Wanda to attune.

If she did attune before dying and being decrypted...could that have any ramifications for Wanda's hold over her?

Sylvia was attuned and got power in signamancy?

[justamessenger]

I went back a few strips, http://www.erfworld.com/page/8/ , Slately very clearly refers to Tramennis as his 'remaining son.' So... My vote is that Tramennis isthe sole surviving son, given the 'we haven't the schmuckers to designate him' comment made by Slately in the same strip

Option: alive but exiled.

Ah, now there is yet another good question: do heirs or children have to follow loyalty? If not, then exile is certainly a possibility. Or perhaps they can go and form other sides?

[atalex]

Wow. I wonder if Sylvia is in awe of Parson, or in awe of the destructive capacity Parson represents.

IMHO, Parson is like Erfworld's own mini-Great Old One. His thinking is indeed alien to them, as it's so "outside of the box" (application of the scientific method, plus knowledge of events and possibilities from another reality). I say this, because to me, Sylvia seems "out of it" - sorta like Jack. She's in her own little world. I think it's because she seen the power of a "Great Old One" (Parson) and been driven insane. Admittedly, it's not a great comparison... Parson ain't exactly Cthulhu... but more or less, Sylvia's mind is broken because she's trying to put ordinary prospective on something, utterly alien and incomprehensible to her... thus insanity.

Dammit, you totally janked my comment. Yes, it seems to me that Sylvia got a good clear look at the raw power of a Lovecraftian horror and immediately decided to become a Cthulhu cultist in response.

[ftl]

I can see two possibilities:
A. Parson was summoned at level 1, gets experience for leading battles, whether or not he is an active participant, received a massive experience boost for tBfGK and probably leveled (multiple times), and Wanda just doesn't know his current level due to his stats being hidden.

B. ErfWorld units can pop with a random low number other than 1 as a level. Parson was summoned at level 2, only gets experience for directly killing stuff (like the wiener ram), Wanda is estimating his level since he hasn't done any fighting since tBfGK, and he will likely remain level 2 for a long time.

[/quote]

Well, there's a natural distinction between being 'popped' and 'summoned'.

Popped - means the unit was created here out of thin air, this is its first breath and first experiences.

Summoned - the unit is brought here from elsewhere; it existed prior to the summoning (just somewhere else), has a set of experiences from before.

These make basically no difference for the ruler doing the summoning/popping... but it could be used to explain why some units can be 'summoned' at a non-basic level, such as Parson, whereas most 'pop' at level 1. (After all, Parson had a reasonable life behind him - it's not surprising that he's not level 1, given that. But from an Erfworld perspective, he did just appear, and didn't exist before then, so it may be surprising to them.)

[JustDoug]

On the subject of Parson's level:
<clip>
I can see two possibilities:
A. Parson was summoned at level 1, gets experience for leading battles, whether or not he is an active participant, received a massive experience boost for tBfGK and probably leveled (multiple times), and Wanda just doesn't know his current level due to his stats being hidden.

I see a third: that Parson doesn't have a level as per Erf's usual rules. From the tale so far, nobody can see his stats. They were only able to estimate his level by the bonus units received from his (first term) presence as Chief Warlord.

[shadowdemon_lord]

I went back a few strips, http://www.erfworld.com/page/8/ , Slately very clearly refers to Tramennis as his 'remaining son.' So... My vote is that Tramennis isthe sole surviving son, given the 'we haven't the schmuckers to designate him' comment made by Slately in the same strip

Option: alive but exiled.

Ah, now there is yet another good question: do heirs or children have to follow loyalty? If not, then exile is certainly a possibility. Or perhaps they can go and form other sides?

Indeed royals can form new sides as evidenced when Ossomer briefly thought maybe he'd conquer Hagars kingdom and form his own spin off side. Although I consider it more likely he's dead, as such a spin off side would likely be a close ally of Jetstones We would have seen evidence of such a side by now (presence in the crusade to croak Stanley, aiding in the defense). As is we see FAQ and Transylvito as Jetstones most prominent allies (although Transylvito seems to have no idea what it's dealing with in GK).

As for the Hammer debate, I think we see it paling in comparison to the other two because it's not being used at the moment. We've seen from Prince Sammy that the rock out ability of the hammer is the most powerful form of dance fighting there is, although it does seem to rely on other units that can rock (the KISS knights). The lightning melee strike of the hammer seems to be one of the single most powerful melee attacks in all of Erfworld, considering Stanley one shotted Ceasar with it. Also, that Dwagon fleet of GK's is nothing to sneeze at, if not for Kingworld it would have likely have let them plow through Jillians considerable air force, the defenses of Space Rock, and decapitate Jet Stone. In a way it seems like Charlie is the factor in this story that keeps it interesting, rather then being a cakewalk for Parson. I mean, without those archons TBFGK would have been over the turn the Dwagons conducted raid number 2 on the seige equipment.

EDIT: Also, I approve of the Parson=great old one idea. Truly what was done to end TBFGK must look like the work of a great old one to the denizens of Erfworld.

[teratorn]

This conversation is somewhat bizarre since it was Sylvia who killed Ossomer, and here he is discussing calmly with her.

We knew Wanda liked Parson to the point of telling him about the treason to Faq, but apparently it is much more than that.

«I felt another power. Not greater, but closer. More active. More alive. And just as alien. I never knew what it could have been, but my Lady Wanda was kind enough to explain it.»

Sylvia could feel Parson's presence through the pliers? And Wanda too, apparently. This puts Parson's ideas on par with the tools of the Titans, the means to conquer and remake Erfworld. Wanda won't leave his side.

[Ansan Gotti]

Also makes more interesting Wanda's comment toward the end of Book 1 that Parson had actually lost.